Participants of the Navy NUPOC program must also meet the medical standards for Nuclear Field Duty/Ionizing Radiation.

The Navy Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program is immensely competitive and will take a lot of effort and persistence.

As a result, the basic requirements for eligibility are stringent for a reason.

Education Requirements

Candidates of the Navy Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC) must be students at an accredited college or university.

Most candidates are pursuing a BA, BS, or MS in mathematics, engineering, chemistry, or physics.

If you are still in school, you may apply as early as 30 months before completion of your undergraduate degree if you wish to become a Surface Warfare Officer, Nuclear Submarine Officer, and instructor positions.

Meanwhile, you may apply as early as 18 months from the completion of a degree for the Naval Reactors Engineer position.

Students that are in graduate school may join the NUPOC training program as early as 12 months before completion of a degree.

The additional academic requirements of NUPOC include:

Completion of one academic year of calculus.

Completion of one year of calculus-based physics.

GPA of a minimum grade of “B” in all technical courses.

GPA of a minimum grade of “C” in all technical courses for Nuclear Submarine Officer and Nuclear Surface Warfare Officer candidates.

NOTE: The general qualifications of NUPOC may depend on whether you plan to serve Active Duty or Reserve Duty. You can learn more details about the education requirements of NUPOC, here.

4. How To Ace the NUPOC Interview

Expect the NUPOC interview to last 45-60 minutes with 2-5 questions related to math or physics. Image: Navy Live

The Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC) is extremely competitive.

Along with needing to meet all of the prerequisites the U.S. Navy also interviews prospective candidates.

The good news is that you can find study guides and interview prep advice online.

The technical interviews for NUPOC are based on problem-solving.

It is important to note that the NUPOC discussion is not like a traditional interview.

Instead, the Admiral will ask you a couple of questions and judge your critical thinking skills.

The majority of the questions are from calculus and physics.

Former interview participants mention that the interviewer is most interested in your problem-solving process.

The problem-solving questions are related to mathematics and calculus which makes doing a brush up on your studies highly important.

Speaking to a local recruiter can help you prepare for the interview, and may even set up a test run for added preparation.

While it is natural to be nervous, remember that the key to acing the NUPOC interview is remaining poised and precise.

Keep in mind that the job is yours to lose because it’s difficult to even become eligible for the program in the first place.

You’ll do just fine if you relax and focus on the studies that you have learned over the last 4-6 years in college.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You can serve the U.S. Navy in a unique capacity aboard an aircraft carrier, submarine, or headquartered in Washington, D.C.. Image: Navy Live

The most commonly asked questions about the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC) include:

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